The Barefoot Birth Team
Makayla Cole
Owner & Midwife
Like many birth workers, my passion for birth was born through the experience of having my own children. Each birth left me feeling empowered and deeply connected to the sacredness of the process. After the birth of my third and final child in 2019, I knew I couldn’t ignore the calling—I jumped headfirst into birth work.
I began as a doula and birth photographer to immerse myself in the world I loved, always knowing that midwifery was the ultimate goal. In 2020, I officially began my midwifery training and in 2023, I proudly earned my Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential and became a licensed midwife in the state of South Carolina.
When I’m not supporting families in the birth space, I’m at home on our little homestead—gardening, wrangling chickens, and soaking up nature with my family. I homeschool my three beautiful children and share life with my best friend and husband, Nate. We’re active in our local church and love spending our free time exploring the outdoors and making memories through spontaneous adventures.
Some of my favorite things are - plants & flowers, coffee, candles and traveling!
And yes—I love sharing my birth stories! Ask me about my unexpected home birth and the time I gave birth in the car!
April McMasters
Midwife Assistant
April is a proud mother of two grown children, Aaron, an Aerospace Engineer in the Airforce and Makayla, the owner of Barefoot Birth, and three grandchildren. She resides in the Upstate with her husband and enjoys cooking, church, spending time with her family and snuggles with her blind kitty, Minnie.
April's passion for birth started after she unexpectedly delivered her first grandchild at home. A few years later, she again, unexpectedly delivered another grandchild in the backseat of their car. Her supportive and encouraging demeanor during births brings a great comfort to families in a very personal, intimate time in their lives. Supporting and serving Makayla in a career that she loves, while fulfilling her own passion, is a dream come true.
Kristen Shorey
Student Midwife
Future Barefoot Birth Midwife
I'm Kristen—Michigan transplant, super introvert, wife, and mama to four amazing kiddos. I also share my home with two golden retrievers, a cat, rat, and a daily revolving door of toads, lizards, turtles, and bugs (thanks to my curious crew). I love being outdoors—when it’s not sweltering—I live for autumn, find comfort in storms, practically live in jumpsuits, and am deeply obsessed with all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
After experiencing a traumatic first birth, I knew things had to be different. When I became pregnant again, I committed to doing the work—seeking healing, learning, and discovering just how beautiful and transformative birth can truly be, especially at home.
That journey changed me. It ignited something deep within me—a passion I couldn’t ignore.
For the past three years, I’ve had the honor of attending births as a doula, and more recently adding birth photography to my repertoire, walking alongside women in some of the most sacred, powerful moments of their lives. That experience led me to a deeper calling.
Now, as a student midwife, I’m continuing to grow, learn, and serve. I want every woman to know that birth can be free of fear and filled with strength. That she deserves support rooted in trust, knowledge, and respect.
Kristen is in the final stages of her midwifery training and is working toward becoming a licensed midwife. She is expected to complete her training and obtain her license in 2027, at which time she plans to join Barefoot Birth as a licensed midwife.
She is already an important part of our practice and is gaining hands-on experience caring for families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period under appropriate supervision.
For families planning a 2027 birth:
Upon licensure, she will join Barefoot Birth as a midwife and provide care alongside Makayla.
April McMasters
Midwife Assistant
I’m April, a proud mother of two grown children—Aaron, an Aerospace Engineer in the Air Force, and Makayla, the owner of Barefoot Birth—as well as a proud grandmother to three wonderful grandchildren. I live in the Upstate with my husband, and I enjoy cooking, being involved in my church, spending time with family, and snuggling up with my blind kitty, Minnie.
My passion for birth work began in a very unexpected way—when I delivered my first grandchild at home. A few years later, I found myself unexpectedly delivering another grandbaby in the backseat of our car. Those experiences opened my heart to the beauty and power of birth.
I find great joy in supporting families during one of the most personal and sacred moments of their lives. Being a calming, encouraging presence during birth is an honor. Getting to support Makayla in a career she loves, while fulfilling my own calling, truly feels like a dream come true.
Two-Midwife Care Team
Beginning in 2027, Barefoot Birth intends to transition to a two-midwife practice, with Makayla and Kristen working together to provide personalized, relationship-centered care. Throughout your pregnancy, you will have the opportunity to get to know and work with both midwives, allowing you to build a relationship with the entire team rather than relying on a single provider.
Once Kristen is licensed, our goal is for both midwives to attend most births and appointments together whenever possible. However, we believe in creating a sustainable model of midwifery that allows each of us time away from the practice to rest, spend time with family, and maintain balance. Because of this, there will be times when only one midwife is available for a visit, on-call period, or birth. While we will do our best to plan for continuity and collaboration, we cannot guarantee that both midwives will attend your birth or that a particular midwife will be the one attending.
Our two-midwife model is designed to give you the benefits of deeply personal care, where you feel confident and cared for by the whole team, while also creating a sustainable practice for the midwives providing it.
Address
1005 West Bramlett Road
Suite 101
Greenville, SC 29611
